The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-12-31
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
How Christmas was Spent-Observance
ofNew Year Day-Good Business Out.
look-Getting Rid OF Republican
Ofacials, &C., &C.


BALTIMORE, December 9th, 1887.
Messrs. Editors Yesterday was observed as
Christmas instead of Sunday. 1t was regular
legal holiday and very generally kept as SUCH
Some stores and shops were open which were en-
gagged especially in business pertaining to the hol-
idays, but none others. They were obliged to be
open to crafty their customers and seemed to be-
doing o large business in that way. They were
generally small shops and the proprietors busy
selling toys, &c. large crowd of people, old and
young, were out on the streets from morning until
night. All the theatres and places of amusement
were open and crowded both afternoon and even
ing. Many persons from the country were in town
who amused themselves in that way. Many horns
were blown but no harm in that way was done ex-
cept the interminable noise. There were no acct
dents of moment from shooting of pistols or the
use of deadly weapons of any kind. The police
were very vigilant in keeping order and attended
we'll to their duty. We had no fires of moment
All went off we'll. The weather was pleasant and
somewhat cool, with very slight sprinkling of
snow in the afternoon. The day was spent pretty
much as a home-day and all were able, am glad
to learn, to have satisfactory meals. good fat
turkey generally adorned the dinner together with
such other ct c@teras as suited. There was but
little complaint of poverty or hard times or hun
ger. To those who had not of their own it was
generally supplied by benevolent, generous friends
It may be said then that the day was pleasant
holiday to every one. There was no dimunition
of pleasure in any way to the many who enter into
such festivities. l may say this in general terms.
One of pleasure was not had, that is skating
and sliding the ice, for there very little to
be found in country city, the lakes and
ponds in the public parks would have been crowd
ed. Plenty Of persons could be seen with skates,
but they were disappointed in not finding ice. They
however, made the best of q bad bargain and SUBJ
stituted other enjoymeuts. There waslpery little
rufianism seen anywhere on the streets. No
fighting nor drunken broils as have seen. re-
member on such holidays heretofore particularly
the 4th of July and Christmas, when the laws
were not strictly enforced, there were sometimes
fifty fires before breakfast and many drunken
fights. There was hardly anything of the kind
yesterday. 1t shows that We have improved con-
sderably and think are gradually getting better.
hope it shall continue getting so until every one
will learn to know that the best thing is always to
learn to do right on holidays and every other day.
1t is a short creed and easy to learn.
Next Sunday will be New Years, and, like
Christmas, Monday will be kept in its stead. It
will be good occasion to make good resolutions
and still better to keep them. Remember ever to
do right, far as you know, and you will never do
wrong intentionally. Let this be a motto during
your whole life. There will then be no occasion
for special resolutions. This one will cover them
all. The custom of making New Year calls will
be continued this year heretofore. tits thought
they will not be made to such an extent as they
have been, the practice appears to be going out
of vogue. Many persons, however, will be out on
visits on Monday-young men especially. LISA
good custom if properly observed and gives per-
sons good opportunity to renew friendships. l
hope it may not be neglected this year and find
many who will observe it. It is known to have
been the means of reconciing many useless diff
culties.
This will be rather dull week in business
Merchants generally will be engaged posting up
their books and getting in readiness to commence
the New Year with clean sheet. The clerks,
therefore, will be very busy in closing accounts.
Not much actual commercial transactions will be
entered into until after the beginning of the
New Year. 1t is said there very fattering
prospects ahead for active and profitable transac-
lions. good many business men are of the i'm
preston that there will be war in Europe during
the coming year. If so it will most likely make
business in this country active and put up prices
of all staple goods. The people of Russia partic-
ulary are spelling for a fight and Germany seems
ready to meet them. If war in Russia once be-
gins there is telling what other nations may be
involved-possbly all the other powers of Europe.
England may also be forced into it. If SO all
of Europe may ultimately be implicated. In such
case it cannot help involving other surrounding
nations. The result would be terrible and the
ending far distant. The public press and leading
statesmen now appear apprehensive such will be
the result. 1t cannot be averted very long. Ger
many, Russia and Austria are perfectly prepared
for such result
see that there is to be general sweep Of Re-
publicans in the Custom House and elsewhere in
the public service, who have been retained under
the civil service law. This may possibly be ad-
vantageous to the party in the end. We will see
how it works I never did believe that the poll
ticians would allow Mr.. Cleveland to have his own
way on this subject. The sooner, therefore, they
know it the better it may be for the party. 1t
may aid in causing unity, without which the Re-
publican party will have hard struggle to elect
their man. whoever he may be, but with it there is
q strong prospect of success. The time is draw
ing close for the great contest to begin.
Asthe New Year will be ushered in in short time
after your paper goes to press, allow me to wish
you, Messrs Editors, and all your many readers,
the compliments of the season. May you live
long and be happy and success be ever upon your
pathway. To "Nestor's" readers he wishes the
same. He has been corresponding for The UNION
good number of years and always endeavored to
please and interest them. As this has been his
aim in the past so will it be in the future must
also wish your lady friends doubly the compli-
ments of the season, for he who neglects them
never can be prosperous. May they, il DESTROYS,
find good husbands and none other. NEsToR.